Paddle wheel for dyeing machines



Nov. 8; 1927.

A. S. KOHOUT PADDLE WHEEL FOR DYEING MACHINES Filed June 13, 1924 Patented Nov. 8, 1927. V

UNITED STATES 1 1,648,771 PATENT OFFICE.

ADDISON STEPHEN KOHOUT, 0F READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 SMITH, DRUM & COMPANY, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING 0F ROBERT 1. SMITH AND GEORGE E. DRUM, BOTH OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PADDLE WHEEL FOR DYEING MACHINES.

Application filed June 13, 1924. Serial No. 719,803.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a paddle wheel for dyeing machines which cannot'injure the fabrics under treatment. More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a paddle wheel with peripheral rollers which, by reason of their ability to rotate freely, have no tendency to take hold of or frictionally engage in any manner the fabrics with which the wheel comes in contact.

The invention further resides in certain novel and advantageous details of construction hereinafter set forth.

In the attached drawings:

Figure 1 is a section on the line 11, Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating the details of the mounting of the rollers.

In dyeing machines of the type employing paddle wheels for agitating the bath, it is very desirable that the wheels be so constructed as to be incapable of injuring the fabrics with which they come incontact. This is particularly true in the dyeing of the finer cotton and silk fabrics. It is particularly desirable that the outer or peripheral portions of the paddle wheels be so formed as to have as little friction with the fabrics as possible and Various structural features have been developed to reduce friction. I have discovered that especially good results may be obtained by providing the paddle wheels at their peripheries, and particularly at the outer edges of the vanes, with rollers freely rotatable in the wheel and capable of reducing, if not entirely eliminating, the friction and rubbing contact between the Wheel and the fabrics.

With reference to the drawings, 1 indicates a shaft which carries the paddle wheel, said shaft being mounted in the usual manner in suitable bearings in the vat body. The paddle wheel comprises end plates 2, 2, which, in the present instance, are secured to hub elements 3, 3, on the shaft 1. Secured to the inner sides of the plates 2, 2, and extending radially thereof, is a series of angle bars 4 forming inwardly projecting flanges to which the vanes of the paddle wheel may be secured. The said vanes, designated in the drawings by the reference numeral 5,

extend from one end plate to the other, as clearly illustrated. The vanes 5 stop short of the peripheries of the plates 2, 2, to provide space within the said peripheries for a series of rollers 6. which latter are journaled on the end plates in a manner best illustrated in Fig. 3. As therein shown, each of the rollers 6 consists of a tube 7 the opposite ends of which carry roller bearings 8, which latter are journaled upon cross rods 9 extending between the end plates. The rods 9 have reduced extremities 10 which project through the end plates 2, 2, and through a guard plate 11, for the roller bearing, said guard plate being positioned intermediate the end plates and the-said bearing 8. The guard plates 11 comprise a recess in which the outer ends of the said bearings 8 are established, and it will be noted that this recess is sufiiciently deep to permit the flanges of the plate to extend over the ends of the tubes 7 thereby covering the joint between the said tubes and the bearings 8.

That portion of each of the extremities 10 .which'project beyond the side plates 2 is threaded for the reception of a semi-spherical nut 12.

' As will be apparent from the drawings, all the edges and projecting elements are rounded off, wherever possible, to eliminate sharp edges, and the outer edge of each of the vanes 5 of the paddle wheel is protected by one of the rollers 6. Under operating con ditions, as the paddle wheel rotates in the vat, the fabrics are engaged first by the rollers, which by reason of their ability to freely rotate create no friction in said contact.

I claim: I

1. A paddle wheel for dyeing machines comprising a hub structure; end plates; vanes'extending between said end plates; and rollers journaled in said end plates adjacent the outer edges of said vanes.

2. A paddle wheel for dyeing machines comprising a hub structure; end plates; vanes secured to said end plates; rods extending between said end plates adjacent the outer edges of said vanes; rollers journaled on said rods; and roller guards intermediate the said end plates and the ends of said rollers.

ADDISON STEPHEN KOHOUT. 

